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Wind turbine sound and health effects : an expert panel review

Abstract

This paper presented the results of a study conducted to review the current literature available on the perceived health effects of wind turbines. The review was conducted by a multidisciplinary panel comprised of audiologists, medical doctors, and acoustical professionals from throughout the world. The document was prepared as a reference point for legislators, regulators and other stakeholders in need of information about wind turbine sounds. A large body of peer-reviewed literature on sound and health effects in general were reviewed in order to assess the plausible biological effects of exposure to wind turbine sound. A review of potential environmental exposures associated with wind turbine operations was conducted. Results of the study indicated that there is no evidence that the sounds emitted by wind turbines have any direct adverse physiological effects, and that the ground-borne vibrations from wind turbines are too weak to be detected or to affect humans. The panel concluded that the sounds from wind turbines can not plausibly have direct adverse health consequences. 126 refs., 3 tabs., 4 figs., 5 appendices.
Authors:
Colby, D; [1]  Western Ontario Univ., London, ON (Canada). Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry]; Dobie, R; [2]  Leventhall, G; [3]  Lipscomb, D M; [4]  McCunney, R J; [5]  Seilo, M T; [6]  Sondergaard, B [7] 
  1. Chatham-Kent Health Centre, ON (Canada)
  2. Texas Univ., San Antonio, TX (United States). Health Science Center
  3. United States Inst. of Noise Control Engineering, Washington, DC (United States)
  4. Overflow Inc., Thompsons Station, TN (United States)
  5. Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA (United States)
  6. Western Washington Univ., Bellingham, WA (United States)
  7. International Electrochemical Council, Geneva (Switzerland)
Publication Date:
Dec 15, 2009
Product Type:
Book
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Online publication
Subject:
17 WIND ENERGY; 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; 60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES; WIND TURBINES; NOISE POLLUTION; MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS; BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS; PUBLIC HEALTH; REVIEWS; MEDICINE; PHYSIOLOGY
OSTI ID:
21401789
Research Organizations:
Canadian Wind Energy Association, Ottawa, ON (Canada); American Wind Energy Association, Washington, DC (United States)
Country of Origin:
Canada
Language:
English
Other Identifying Numbers:
TRN: CA1100541
Availability:
Available from the Canadian Wind Energy Association, Suite 710, 1600 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario, K1Z 1G3 or from the Internet at http://www.canwea.ca/pdf/talkwind/Wind_Turbine_Sound_and_Health_Effects.pdf
Submitting Site:
CANM
Size:
85 pages
Announcement Date:
Mar 21, 2011

Citation Formats

Colby, D, Western Ontario Univ., London, ON (Canada). Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry], Dobie, R, Leventhall, G, Lipscomb, D M, McCunney, R J, Seilo, M T, and Sondergaard, B. Wind turbine sound and health effects : an expert panel review. Canada: N. p., 2009. Web.
Colby, D, Western Ontario Univ., London, ON (Canada). Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry], Dobie, R, Leventhall, G, Lipscomb, D M, McCunney, R J, Seilo, M T, & Sondergaard, B. Wind turbine sound and health effects : an expert panel review. Canada.
Colby, D, Western Ontario Univ., London, ON (Canada). Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry], Dobie, R, Leventhall, G, Lipscomb, D M, McCunney, R J, Seilo, M T, and Sondergaard, B. 2009. "Wind turbine sound and health effects : an expert panel review." Canada.
@misc{etde_21401789,
title = {Wind turbine sound and health effects : an expert panel review}
author = {Colby, D, Western Ontario Univ., London, ON (Canada). Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry], Dobie, R, Leventhall, G, Lipscomb, D M, McCunney, R J, Seilo, M T, and Sondergaard, B}
abstractNote = {This paper presented the results of a study conducted to review the current literature available on the perceived health effects of wind turbines. The review was conducted by a multidisciplinary panel comprised of audiologists, medical doctors, and acoustical professionals from throughout the world. The document was prepared as a reference point for legislators, regulators and other stakeholders in need of information about wind turbine sounds. A large body of peer-reviewed literature on sound and health effects in general were reviewed in order to assess the plausible biological effects of exposure to wind turbine sound. A review of potential environmental exposures associated with wind turbine operations was conducted. Results of the study indicated that there is no evidence that the sounds emitted by wind turbines have any direct adverse physiological effects, and that the ground-borne vibrations from wind turbines are too weak to be detected or to affect humans. The panel concluded that the sounds from wind turbines can not plausibly have direct adverse health consequences. 126 refs., 3 tabs., 4 figs., 5 appendices.}
place = {Canada}
year = {2009}
month = {Dec}
}